Beuhla Maureen Kranich

Beulah Maureen Kranich, a life-long Portlander, was born at Emanual Hospital on October 19, 1937, the oldest daughter of Fred and Helen (Eissinger) Moser.  She attended Boise and Ockley Green Elementary schools, graduated from Jefferson High School in 1955, and attended some classes at Cascade College.

Maureen met the love of her life, Don Kranich, on a blind date in January of 1955 and they married in Portland in July of 1956.  After a brief stay in California, the couple moved back to Portland, where Don found work and became a baker at Nabisco, and where Maureen became a full-time mom and home maker, their union blessed with three children, Cindy, Jeffrey, and Michael.  Maureen and Don celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary in July 2016.

Maureen’s work and hobbies were eclectic.  She enjoyed reading, listening to music, landscape painting using oils, sewed her own and many of the family’s clothes, played piano, enjoyed finding and refinishing old furniture (and occasionally stripping and refinishing hardwood floors!)  She enjoyed discovering and picking up agates and shells on the beach, enjoyed singing in the choir at church, and selecting and sending greeting cards.  For a time, she owned and managed a beauty salon in NW Portland, and worked as a secretary for private business as well as Concordia High School and the NW District Office.  When the grandkids came along, she was very active in being a grandma during their visits, which included cookie baking and family meals.  Decorating and preparing for Christmas and other holiday gatherings when family came home were her favorite times of the year.

While her health declined in recent years and months, Maureen still had a ready smile and twinkles in her eyes when you greeted her.  She is preceded in death by her parents and husband Don.  She is survived by her sister Ramona Haehlen; her children: Cindy Kranich, Jeffrey (Becky) Kranich, Michael Kranich; four grandchildren: Jennifer (Daren) Rice, Paul (Brandi) Kranich, David (Liz) Kranich, Jonathan (Tessa) Kranich, and six great grandchildren: Oscar and Henry Rice, Daniel Kranich, James and Alice Kranich, and Charles Kranich.  (The last two great grand babies were just recently born and great grandma Maureen was told about both of them, and got to see their pictures on Facebook!)